Catamaran with dinghy under foredeck and anchoring and mooring system

ABSTRACT

A catamaran may have a dinghy disposed underneath its foredeck between two hulls. The dinghy, which may rest in a cradle, may be moved up and down between a stowed position and a deployed position. The stern of the catamaran may have a retractable diving board or a retractable net for retrieving fish. A video camera may provide video images of an anchor chain relative to a hull as the anchor chain is deployed from and retracted by a windlass located generally amidships. A monitor may display the video images. A microprocessor in communication with a depth sensor may calculate a length of anchor chain to be deployed and may control operation of the windlass. Acoustic or optic sensors may indicate a position of the anchor chain relative to a hull. A yoke having a specially sized carabiner may be used to connect the anchor chain to a cleat.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/443,497 filed Feb. 16, 2011, and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/529,753 filed Aug. 31, 2011, each of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

This application relates generally to the field of boating, and morespecifically to a catamaran having a dinghy that is stowable under theforedeck between the hulls of the catamaran and an improved anchoringand mooring system for the catamaran.

BACKGROUND

In the field of boating, there is often a need to stow a smaller vesselon or within a larger vessel. In the case of catamaran vessels, the useof “dinghy” vessels is desirable to provide for safety and convenienttransportation to and from the catamaran. In the past, boaters havetypically stowed dinghies on the deck or off the stern of the catamaranusing a system of crane-like davits. However, both of those arrangementsare inconvenient, aesthetically unpleasing, result in significant lossof usable space on the catamaran deck, and cause significant difficultyin deploying the dinghy. Also, in heavy seas a davit-mounted dinghy mustbe relocated and secured elsewhere on the boat. Thus, there is a needfor an improved system and method for stowing a dinghy on a catamaranwhich is aesthetically pleasing, allows for use of most if not all ofthe catamaran deck space, and permits easy deployment of the dinghy.

In addition, catamaran anchoring has traditionally required the effortsof at least two people and has typically been restricted to anchoringoff the bow of the catamaran. Anchoring is typically achieved throughthe combined efforts of a captain and a mate, wherein the captaincontrols the catamaran while the mate monitors the anchor chain andanchor and then secures a yoke to the anchor chain and starboard andport bow cleats. Retrieving the anchor also requires the efforts of boththe captain and the mate, wherein the captain powers the catamarantoward the anchor while the mate directs the captain to keep the chainfrom contacting the hulls of the catamaran and removes the yoke at theappropriate time. Anchoring is typically performed off the bow of thecatamaran because the anchor and windlass are typically accessible onlyon the foredeck of the catamaran. Such systems and methods arecumbersome, imprecise, and limiting in terms of vessel orientation withrespect to prevailing winds, which may restrict the amount of airflowavailable for ventilation of the cabin. There is a need for an improvedsystem and method for more easily and conveniently mooring or anchoringthe catamaran which allows anchoring and mooring off either the bow orthe stern of the catamaran.

SUMMARY

A catamaran may have a dinghy disposed underneath the foredeck andbetween two hulls of the catamaran. The dinghy may rest in a cradle,which may be moved up and down between a stowed position, in which thedinghy fits snugly against the underside of the catamaran deck, and adeployed position, in which the dinghy may be launched on the body ofwater on which the catamaran is deployed. The catamaran and cradle maybe fitted with a system of cables, ropes, wenches, hoists, pneumatic orhydraulic lifts, or other suitable devices to raise and lower the dinghyand cradle between the stowed position and the deployed position. Withthe dinghy arranged in this manner rather than suspended from davits offthe stern of the catamaran, the stern of the catamaran is available forother activities and useful features, such as a retractable diving boardor a retractable net for retrieving fish.

A catamaran may have a windlass located generally amidships, an anchorchain operatively engaged with the windlass, an anchor attached to theanchor chain, at least one video camera mounted to the catamaran andoriented to provide video images of the anchor chain in relation to atleast one hull of the catamaran as the anchor chain is deployed from andretracted by the windlass, and a monitor in communication with the atleast one video camera, the monitor configured for displaying the videoimages of the anchor chain. A depth sensor may be in communication witha microprocessor, which may calculate a length of anchor chain to bedeployed and may control operation of the windlass. One or more acousticor optic sensors may also be provided to indicate the position of theanchor chain with respect to at least one hull of the catamaran. A yokehaving a specially sized carabiner may be used to connect the anchorchain to one or more cleats on the catamaran.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a catamaran having a dinghydisposed underneath the foredeck between the hulls of the catamaran,with the dinghy in a first, stowed position.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the catamaran and dinghy of FIG.1, with the dinghy in a second, intermediate position.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the catamaran and dinghy of FIG.1, with the dinghy in a third, deployed position.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the catamaran and dinghy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a close-up front elevational view of a portion of thecatamaran and dinghy of FIG. 1, with the dinghy in the intermediateposition of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a cradle and lift system for the dinghy ofFIG. 1, with the catamaran and dinghy shown in phantom for clarity.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the dinghy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the stern portion of the dinghy ofFIG. 1, with the dinghy motor in a stowed position.

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the stern portion of the dinghy ofFIG. 1, with the dinghy motor in a deployed position.

FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of the central stern portion of thedinghy of FIG. 1, with the dinghy motor in an intermediate position.

FIG. 11 is a rear elevational view of the central stern portion of thedinghy of FIG. 1, with the dinghy motor in a deployed position.

FIG. 12 is a rear elevational view of the central stern portion of thedinghy of FIG. 1, with the dinghy propeller in a stowed position withina cavity in the catamaran hull.

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the central stern portion of thedinghy of FIG. 1, with the dinghy propeller in the stowed position ofFIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the central stern portion of thedinghy of FIG. 1 showing an angular adjustment mechanism for the dinghymotor.

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a stern portion of the catamaran of FIG. 1having a retractable diving board shown in a deployed position.

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the retractable diving board of FIG. 15shown in a stowed position.

FIG. 17 is a side cross-sectional view of the retractable diving boardof FIG. 15 shown in the stowed position of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a side cross-sectional view of the retractable diving boardof FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the stern of the catamaran of FIG. 1having a retractable net system for retrieving fish shown in a deployedposition.

FIG. 20 is a side cross-sectional view of the retractable net system ofFIG. 19 shown in a fully retracted position.

FIG. 21 is a side cross-sectional view of the retractable net system ofFIG. 19 shown in a fully deployed position.

FIG. 22 is a side cross-sectional view of the retractable net system ofFIG. 19 shown in a first intermediate position.

FIG. 23 is a side cross-sectional view of the retractable net system ofFIG. 19 shown in a second intermediate position.

FIG. 24 is a side cross-sectional view of the retractable net system ofFIG. 19 shown in a third intermediate position.

FIG. 25 is a top cross-sectional view of a tension rod and channel ofthe retractable net of FIG. 19.

FIG. 26 is a front elevational view of a catamaran having an improvedanchoring and mooring system.

FIG. 27 is a partially cut-away top schematic view of the catamaran ofFIG. 26 in which the anchor is deployed towards the bow of thecatamaran.

FIG. 28 is a partially cut-away top schematic view of the catamaran ofFIG. 26 in which the anchor is deployed towards the stern of thecatamaran.

FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of a methodfor anchoring or mooring a catamaran.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a yoke.

FIG. 31 is a front view of the yoke of FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is a schematic cross-sectional front view of a portion of thedeck and hull of the catamaran of FIG. 26 in which the anchor is in astowed position.

FIG. 33 is a schematic cross-sectional front view similar to FIG. 32 inwhich the anchor is in a deployed position.

FIG. 34 is a top plan view of a chain box, windlass, and anchor of thecatamaran of FIG. 26.

FIG. 35 is a schematic cross-sectional starboard side view of the deckand hull of the catamaran of FIG. 26.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of the yoke of FIG. 30 installed on ananchor chain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the following terms should be understood to have theindicated meanings.

When an item is introduced by “a” or “an,” it should be understood tomean one or more of that item.

“Amidships” means a location at or near a position midway between thebow and stern of a water-borne vessel.

“Attached” means, with respect to two or more objects, fastened togetherby any suitable fastener, including but not limited to one or morestitches, staples, brads, rivets, nails, screws, tacks, glue, adhesive,epoxy, welds, ties, or a combination thereof.

“Bow” means a forward portion of a water-borne vessel.

“Catamaran” means a water-borne vessel having two or more spaced aparthulls.

“Comprises” means includes but is not limited to.

“Comprising” means including but not limited to.

“Dinghy” means a water-borne vessel that is smaller than anotherwater-borne vessel to which or on which the former vessel is mountable.

“Hatch” means a cover for an opening in a deck or hull of a water-bornevessel.

“Having” means including but not limited to.

“Stern” means an aft portion of a water-borne vessel.

“Water line” means a generally horizontal plane along which the surfaceof a body of water intersects the hull of a vessel supported by thewater.

As shown in FIGS. 1-6, a catamaran 10 having a cabin 14, two spacedapart hulls 12, a bow rail 16, and a bow deck 18 may have a dinghy 100installed beneath deck 18 and between hulls 12 at or near the bow ofcatamaran 10. Dinghy 100 may rest in a cradle 30, which may be moved upand down between a stowed position (see FIG. 1), in which dinghy 100 isproximate the underside 20 of deck 18, and a deployed position (see FIG.3), in which dinghy 100 may be launched on the body of water on whichcatamaran 10 is deployed. As discussed further below, catamaran 10 andcradle 30 may be fitted with a lift system of cables 36, an electricmotor 40, pulleys 44, a shaft 46 supported by one or more pillow blocks42, and one or more switches 32 to raise and lower dinghy 100 and cradle30 between the stowed position and the deployed position. Alternatively,a system of ropes, wenches, hoists, pneumatic or hydraulic lifts, orother suitable devices may be used to raise and lower dinghy 100. Insome embodiments, cradle 30 may be eliminated, and dinghy 100 may beraised and lowered by cables, ropes, or other suitable means of a liftsystem which may be connected to and disconnected from dinghy 100.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the stowed position, dingy 100 may be heldsecurely by cradle 30 between the hulls 12 of catamaran 10 such thatdinghy 100 is held snugly against the underside 20 of deck 18 ofcatamaran 10. One or more upper surfaces of dinghy 100 or cradle 30and/or one or more lower surfaces of catamaran 10, such as underside 20of deck 18, may have complementary shapes and may be fitted with one ormore seals such that when dinghy 100 is in the stowed position, awater-tight seal is formed between the top portion of dinghy 100 and/orcradle 30 and underside 20 of catamaran 10. This water-tight seal may beaccomplished by any suitable means, such as rubber or plasticweather-stripping 50 (see FIG. 5) and 108 (see FIG. 7), for example,which may be flat, curved, or of other suitable shape. For example, insome embodiments, such weather-stripping may have complementary male andfemale cross-sectional shapes, with the male portion being affixed toone of dinghy 100 (and/or cradle 30) or catamaran 10 and the femaleportion being affixed to the other of dinghy 100 (and/or cradle 30) orcatamaran 10. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the materials of whichdinghy 100, cradle 30, and/or catamaran 10 are made may form awater-tight seal when the top of dinghy 100 and/or cradle 30 is inmechanical contact with underside 20 of catamaran 10 such that no extraseal 50 or 108 may be needed. In some embodiments, dinghy 100 and/orcradle 30 may be composed of appropriate materials and of suchcomplementary shapes that when dinghy 100 is in the stowed position andviewed from below, the hull of catamaran 10 and the hull of dinghy 100and/or cradle 30 appear to form one continuous hull. The transitionbetween the outer surfaces of dinghy 100, cradle 30, and catamaran 10may be fared smoothly in order to form an aerodynamic and hydrodynamicshape with minimized drag. In some embodiments, in the stowed position,such a configuration of dinghy 100, cradle 30, and catamaran 10 may forma V-shaped nacelle and help catamaran 10 cut through rough waters.

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, catamaran 10 may have two primary hulls 12 whichare spaced apart and connected by a deck 18. Hulls 12 may be separatestructures or they may be one unitary structure. Alternatively,catamaran 10 may have more than two hulls. Deck 18 of catamaran 10 maybe made of any appropriate material to provide support for persons anddevices deployed on deck 18, including but not limited to metal,plastic, fiberglass, wood, or other suitable materials or a combinationthereof. Hulls 12 of catamaran 10 may be substantially hollow, buoyantstructures made of any appropriate material, including but not limitedto metal, plastic, fiberglass, wood, or other suitable materials or acombination thereof. In some embodiments, deck 18 of catamaran 10 may beapproximately four feet above the water line 15, but any suitable sizingmay be used for catamaran 10 and dinghy 100.

As shown in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, catamaran 10 and dinghy 100 maybe configured such that when dinghy 100 is in the stowed position, atleast a portion of the bow 102 of dinghy 100 extends forward of theforward edge 22 of bow deck 18 of catamaran 10, such that a bow deck 134of dinghy 100 may be exposed, thereby allowing a user to step from deck18 of catamaran 10 to deck 134 of dinghy 100. Similarly, in someembodiments, in addition to or in lieu of bow deck 134 of dinghy 100, abow portion of cradle 30 may extend forward of forward edge 22 of bowdeck 18 and may serve as a platform on which a user may stand. As shownin FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, underside 20 of catamaran 10 may have one or moregrab rails 34 for a user to hold for balance when boarding dinghy 100from catamaran 10 or boarding catamaran 10 from dinghy 100. The trailingedge of bow deck 134 of dinghy 100 or the bow portion of cradle 30 mayhave a shape that is complementary to the leading edge 22 of catamaran10, such that a water-tight seal may be formed between bow deck 134 ofdinghy 100 or the bow portion of cradle 30 and deck 18 of catamaran 10.Bow deck 134 of dinghy 100 or the bow portion of cradle 30 may be asubstantially stiff structure that is suitable to support the weight ofa person. Bow deck 134 and the bow portion of cradle 30 may be made ofany appropriate material, including but not limited to metal, plastic,fiberglass, wood, or other suitable materials or a combination thereof.In some embodiments, bow deck 134 may be attachable to and removablefrom dinghy 100 by any appropriate means, including but not limited to anumber of snaps, clasps, or clamps. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1-5, deck18 of catamaran 10 may be equipped with a deck railing 16 having aplurality of vertical and horizontal members. Deck railing 16 may bepositioned at or near the bow of catamaran 10 such that a user mayeasily and securely grip the deck railing 16 while stepping into and outof dinghy 100.

As shown in FIGS. 1-14, dinghy 100 may be any suitable type ofwater-borne vessel of appropriate size and shape to be held securelybetween the hulls 12 of catamaran 10. By way of non-limiting example, insome embodiments, dinghy 100 may be approximately six to ten feet inlength from bow to stern and approximately five feet at its beam. Dinghy100 may be inflatable, substantially rigid, or a combination thereof andmay be made of any suitable materials, such as metal, plastic, rubber,fiberglass, wood, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, dinghy100 may have a transom 104 at its stern to which a dinghy motor 110 maybe mounted. As mentioned above, dinghy 100 may have a seal 108 forsealingly engaging underside 20 of catamaran 10.

Referring principally to FIGS. 4 and 7, dinghy 100 may have a dockingstation 106 to which a control console 140 may be mounted. Controlconsole 140 may have one or more suitable computer processors, powersupplies, computer memories, and other electronics to control dinghymotor 110 and one or more control surfaces such as a rudder (not shown).Control console 140 may be in wired or wireless communication withdinghy motor 110 and such control surfaces, and control console 140 mayhave any suitable input devices, such as one or more throttle andsteering control knobs, wheels, buttons, joysticks, or a combinationthereof. For example, control console 140 may have a joystick controller146 similar to the Axius™ joystick control system available from MercuryMarine, a division of Brunswick Corporation in Lake Forest, Ill. (seewww.joystickboatcontrol.com/axius.php). Control console 140 may have anysuitable power supply, including but not limited to one or moresolar-powered, rechargeable batteries, such as lithium-magnesiumbatteries, for example. Control console 140 may also have computerizednavigation equipment, such as GPS equipment, and one or more electronicdisplays, such as LCD or CRT screens, for example, in communication withthe one or more computer processors that may be used to communicateinformation concerning dinghy 100 and/or catamaran 10 to a user, such asspeed, location, heading, distance between dinghy 100 and catamaran 10,distance between dinghy 100 or catamaran 10 and another location,running time, remaining electric power, remaining operational time, orthe like. In some embodiments, control console 106 may be accessedthrough a hatch 150 on deck 18 of catamaran 10, and control console 106may be removable from dinghy 100 and either held in a user's hands ormountable on another console 140 on the bridge 160 or some otherconvenient location on catamaran 10 and used to control dinghy 100remotely via wireless communication. In some embodiments, hatch 150 andthe associated opening in deck 18 may be sized and configured to allowfor loading and unloading cargo to and from dinghy 100 through suchopening and to allow users to board and disembark from dinghy 100through such opening when dinghy 100 is in a stowed position beneathcatamaran 10. In such embodiments, one or more switches 32 for operatingmotor 40 may be located in the vicinity of hatch 150 and its opening indeck 18 in lieu of or in addition to those switches 32 described on rail16 below.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, 5, and 6, cradle 30 may be a generally hollowstructure shaped to receive dinghy 100. Cradle 30 may be a shell-likestructure, a frame-like structure, or a combination thereof. Further,cradle 30 may be configured such that the interior walls of cradle 30may be of appropriate size and shape to receive the hull of dinghy 100,such that dinghy 100 may nest within cradle 30. Such configuration maysignificantly facilitate the use of cradle 30, as described furtherbelow.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, cradle 30 may be made of any appropriatematerial capable of supporting loads associated with dinghy 100 and oneor more passengers and capable of resisting rust or corrosion whichmight be caused by long-term exposure to fresh or salt water. The topsurface of cradle 30 may have any appropriate soft and grabby material,such as sponge, foam rubber, or rubber, to prevent slipping, scratching,or other damage to dinghy 100 and cradle 30 when they are in mechanicalcontact with each other. In some embodiments, cradle 30 may have one ormore hooks, loops, or clasps adapted to receive complementary hooks,loops, or clasps on dinghy 100 and securely fasten thereto in order tosecure dinghy 100 to cradle 30. For example, cradle 30 may have a sternsupport adapted to securely fasten dinghy 100 to cradle 30 to preventthe stern of dinghy 100 from tipping upward when a user steps onto bowdeck 134 of dinghy 100 from catamaran 10.

Still referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a system for raising and loweringcradle 30 may include one or more cables 36 of appropriate size andstrength to raise and lower dinghy 100 and cradle 30 between thedeployed and stowed positions. Cables 36 may be attached to cradle 30and may be routed through the hull of catamaran 10 at guide holes 38,pass through one or more pulleys 44, and wrap about shaft 46. Shaft 46may be rotatably mounted in a plurality of pillow blocks 42, bearings,or other suitable mountings and may be fixedly connected to a cradlemotor 40. Shaft 46 may be a single shaft or a plurality of shafts. Oneor more switches 32 may be in wired or wireless communication withcradle motor 40. Switches 32 may cause cradle motor 40 to turn shaft 46in a first direction to wind up cables 36 onto shaft 46 and therebyraise cradle 30, and switches 32 may cause cradle motor 40 to turn shaft46 in a second direction to unwind cables 36 from shaft 46 and therebylower cradle 30. Although elements 36 have been identified as cables,persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that ropes, belts,straps, sprocket-mounted chains, or other suitable tension elements maybe used in lieu of or in addition to cables. Cables 36 may be composedof any material of appropriate gage and strength to support the loadsrequired in performing its functions as described herein. Cables 36 maybe of sufficient length to extend from shaft 46 to some depth belowwater line 15 such that cradle 30 may be lowered into the water in orderto launch dinghy 100. Although shaft 46, cradle motor 40, pulleys 44,and pillow blocks 42 are shown disposed within the hull of catamaran 10,those elements may be located above deck 18 or below underside 20. Ifsuch elements are disposed within the hull of catamaran 10 as shown, thehull and/or deck 18 of catamaran 10 may have one or more hatches forallowing access to such elements for purposes of performing maintenanceon them.

Shaft 46 may be substantially cylindrical or of other suitable shape. Insome embodiments, shaft 46 may include one or more grooves ofappropriate size and shape to receive cables 36 when wrapped, coiled, orwound about shaft 46 and allow cables 36 to nest therein. Shaft 46 mayalso be adapted to be permanently attached in any appropriate manner tocables 36 such that rotation of the pipe or pipes 46 about their centralaxis in one direction will cause cables 36 to wind around the outersurface of shaft 46. In order to facilitate the free rotation of shaft46 about its central axis, the ends and central portion of such shaft 46may be fitted into pillow blocks 42 of sufficient size to support theweight of shaft 46, cables 36, cradle 30, dinghy 100, and at least onehuman occupant of dinghy 100. In some embodiments, shaft 46 may besubstantially hollow in order to reduce the overall weight of theraising and lowering system.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, a number of large, grooved wheelsmay be employed in place of or in addition to shaft 46 of the raisingand lowering system. Such grooved wheels may have a main axle and agroove of sufficient depth and width to receive and securely hold awound portion of cables 36. Each of the grooved wheels may be providedwith a stationary support through its central axis, about which thewheel may freely rotate. Like the shaft 46 of the raising and loweringsystem, each such grooved wheel may be attached by any appropriate meansto a point on the cables 36 of the raising and lowering system andconfigured such that rotation of the grooved wheel about its centralaxis in one direction may cause cables 36 to wrap around the wheel, andconversely, rotation of the wheel in the opposite direction about itscentral axis may cause the cables 36 to unwind from the grooved wheel,thereby raising and lowering cradle 30.

As shown in FIGS. 5-6, pulleys 44 may be of any type commonly known inthe art of appropriate size to accommodate cables 36 and capable ofbearing the load weights and tensions required to safely and securelyallow cables 36 to move easily through the system of pulleys 44. Pulleys44 may be configured in such a manner that they operate to alter thedirectional force of any tension present in cables 36 of the raising andlowering system. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognizethat the system of pulleys 44 may be deployed in any number ofconfigurations commonly known in the art to perform additionalfunctions, including but not limited to the realization of somemechanical advantage or division of the application of tension forces asdesired in the operation of the lowering and raising system.

The one or more electrical motors 40 of the raising and lowering systemmay be any electrical motor capable of providing motive power sufficientto rotate shaft 46 and raise and lower the cradle 30 and dinghy 100.Such motors 40 may be of any appropriate type, including but not limitedto a stepper motor capable of providing power sufficient to perform theoperations described above. In some embodiments, motor 40 may be poweredby one or more solar cells. Persons of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that the electric motor 40 may be powered by any otherappropriate means, including but not limited to a gas generator orbattery. Further, persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognizethat a motor or system employing any suitable means of providing motivepower may be employed in place of the electrical motor 40, such as a gaspowered motor or hand crank.

Switches 32 may be any suitable switches commonly known in the art. Suchswitches 32 may be suitably connected to electrical motor 40 such thatupon actuation of switches 32, electrical motor 40 may provide power torotate shaft 46 about its central axis. By way of non-limiting example,switches 32 may be three-position switches adapted such that, whenswitches 32 are in a first, neutral position, electrical motor 40 is notin operation; when switches 32 are in a second, raised position,electrical motor 40 operates to turn shaft 46 in a first direction so asto wind cables 36 about shaft 46 and thereby raise cradle 30; and whenswitches 32 are in a third, lowered position, electrical motor 40operates to turn shaft 46 in an opposite direction so as to unwindcables 36 from shaft 46 and thereby lower cradle 30. Alternatively,electrical switches 32 may be depression toggle switches actuated when auser depresses and releases or presses and holds switches 32. Suchswitches 32 may be configured such that more than one switch must bedepressed and held simultaneously in order for electrical motor 40 toprovide motive power to rotate shaft 46. For example, in someembodiments, two switches 32 (one for each hand of a user) may beconfigured such that both of them must be depressed simultaneously inorder to operate electrical motor 40 for enhanced safety. Additionally,electrical switches 32 may be operatively connected to a sensor (notshown) that is sensitive to and capable of detecting mechanical pressurebetween two or more surfaces. Such a sensor may be positioned in amanner to detect mechanical pressure between dinghy 100 or cradle 30 andunderside 20 of catamaran 10. Electrical switches 32 may be adapted suchthat electric motor 40 is shut off when a desired pressure is detectedbetween dinghy 100 or cradle 30 and underside 20 of catamaran 10 so thatcradle 30, dinghy 100, and catamaran 10 are not overstressed.

To operate the system for raising and lowering cradle 30 and dinghy 100,beginning with cradle 30 and dinghy 100 in the stowed position, a usermay step from deck 18 of catamaran 10 to deck 134 of dinghy 100, whilesecurely holding deck railing 16; activate one or more electricalswitches 32 optionally positioned on vertical members of deck railing16, thus actuating electrical motor 40, thereby causing shaft 46 torotate in a manner to unwrap cables 36 from shaft 46, which allowscradle 30 and dinghy 100 to be lowered to the deployed position. Whencradle 30 and dinghy 100 are lowered to water line 15, the user may movetoward the center of dinghy 100 and remove any optional supports thatmay be in place to release dinghy 100 from cradle 30. The user may thenuse any appropriate means to move dinghy 100 away from cradle 30, suchas by manually pushing off using grab rails 34 of catamaran 10.

In order to return dinghy 100 to its first, stowed position, a user maynavigate dinghy 100 over cradle 30 in the cradle's 30 deployed positionjust below water line 15, optionally secure dinghy 100 to cradle 30 asdescribed above, and actuate one or more electrical switches 32optionally disposed on deck railing 16 or grab rails 34 of catamaran 10in such a manner that electric motor 40 is actuated and provides motivepower to raise cradle 30. As cradle 30 is raised from its deployedposition, cradle 30 may receive dinghy 100 and continue to rise out ofthe water toward underside 20 of catamaran 10. At some point during theraising process, the user may operate electrical switches 32 so as totemporarily cease the upward motion of cradle 30 and move to bow deck134 of dinghy 100, which extends forward of bow 22 of catamaran 10, andthen reactivate the upward raising of cradle 30 and dinghy 100. Cradle30 may continue to rise until such upward motion is ceased by the userby use of electrical switches 32, or by the aforementioned optionalpressure sensor adapted to cease the upward motion of cradle 30 uponsensing a specified pressure between cradle 30 or dinghy 100 andunderside 20 of catamaran 10 so as to achieve a sufficiently snug fit.Once dinghy 100 is in the stowed position, the user may step from deck134 of dinghy 100 to deck 18 of catamaran 10, while securely holdingdeck railing 16.

Referring to FIGS. 7-14, motor 110 of dinghy 100 may be pivotallymounted to transom 104 at a pivot point 120 so that motor 110 may beplaced in a stowed position as shown in FIG. 8 and a deployed positionas shown in FIG. 9. Motor 110 may be any suitable motor, such as anelectric motor available from Torqeedo Inc. (Crystal Lake, Ill.), forexample, or a gas powered motor. Motor 110 may have a propeller 114rotatably attached to an engine 112, which may be attached to a shaft116 that is slidably mounted to a pivot body 118. A power and controlunit 126 may be attached to shaft 116. Power and control unit 126 may bein wired or wireless communication with control console 140, which maybe used to control motor 110 as described above. Power and control unit126 may have any suitable power source, such as a solar-poweredrechargeable battery, for example, which may include a lithium-magnesiumbattery. Shaft 116 may be rotatably mounted to pivot body 118 so thatthe direction of propeller 114 may be adjusted for directional controlof dinghy 100 when motor 110 is in the deployed position of FIG. 9. Inthe stowed position of FIG. 8, upper surfaces 122 and 124 may includeresilient material such as rubber or plastic to help facilitate awater-tight seal between dinghy 100 and catamaran 10 when dinghy 100 isin the stowed position of FIG. 1. In the stowed position of FIG. 1, asfurther shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, engine 112 and propeller 114 may bereceived into a cavity 132 provided in underside 20 of the hull ofcatamaran 10, and a hatch 130 may be attached to pivot body 118 andconfigured such that hatch 130 sealingly covers cavity 132 to form awater-tight seal. As shown in FIG. 14, when dinghy 100 is in a deployedposition, the pitch angle of motor 110 may be controlled by a suitableadjustment mechanism in conjunction with pivot point 120, such as atension spring 138 connected to a pin 142 that may be placed in one ofseveral notches 134 on a detent 136. For increased adjustment, pivotpoint 120 may be slidably disposed within a slot 144. Of course, othersuitable adjustment mechanisms may be used if desired.

The placement of dinghy 100 beneath the bow deck 18 of catamaran 10 asdescribed above, rather than suspending dinghy 100 from davits on thestern of catamaran 10 as is typically done, frees up the stern ofcatamaran 10 for other useful features. As shown in FIGS. 15-18, onesuch feature may be a retractable diving board 170, which may beinstalled within a suitable cavity in the stern of catamaran 10 belowstern deck 182 using a plurality of roller supports 172. In someembodiments, a telescoping pneumatic or hydraulic piston 174 may beconnected to diving board 170 via a suitable connector 176 in order toextend and retract diving board 170 from trailing edge 180. Thehydraulic or pneumatic piston 174 may be operated by a user by means ofany appropriate electrical switching system, such that a user mayoperate such switches to move the diving board 170 from its first,stowed position to its second, deployed position. Alternatively, othersuitable extension and retraction mechanisms may be used for divingboard 170, such as an electric motor turning a worm screw or a handcrank, for example, or diving board 170 may be manually extended andretracted. Diving board 170 may be any diving board commonly known inthe art capable of supporting a person's weight when jumping or bouncingon the board. By way of non-limiting example, the diving board 170 maybe approximately eight (8) feet in length, one and a half (1.5) feetacross, a quarter (0.25) of a foot thick, and comprised primarily ofwood, plastic, fiberglass, or other suitable material, or a combinationthereof. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that divingboard 170 may be adapted at its back or base with a plurality of springsadapted to allow a user to jump or bounce on the front or lead end ofthe diving board 170 when in the deployed position.

As shown in FIGS. 19-25, another stern feature on catamaran 10 may be asystem 200 for the retrieval of fish 220 or other water-level objects.Such retrieval system 200 may have a net 204 that may be wrapped andunwrapped about a spool 202, which may be rotatably mounted at or nearthe stern of catamaran 10. In some embodiments, spool 202 may be mountedbelow stern deck 182. The trailing edge of net 204 may be attached to atension rod 206, each end of which may be slidably mounted in a rodchannel 208 attached to a hull 12 of catamaran 10. A collar 214 mayserve to retain each end of tension rod 26 in rod channel 208, which mayhave a lower leg 210 and an upper leg 212. Tension rod 206 may movewithin rod channel 208 from a fully retracted position as shown in FIG.20, to a fully deployed position as shown in FIG. 21, to variousintermediate positions as shown in FIGS. 22-24, and back to the fullyretracted position. Net 204 may be made of any suitable material and maybe weighted such that a portion of net 204 may sink below water line 15as shown in FIGS. 21-23 in order to retrieve a fish 220 or other objectat or near the surface of the water. Alternatively, a sheet of materialsuch as a tarp or sheet of canvas may be used instead of net 204.

Spool 202 may be any appropriate mechanism or configuration capable ofallowing a sheet or net of material to securely wrap around the spool202 and wind into a compact spool of such material. By way ofnon-limiting example, spool 202 may be a cylinder having two ends and acentral axis. Spool 202 may extend substantially the entire distancebetween the two hulls 12 of catamaran 10 and may be attached at its endsto the two hulls 12 of catamaran 10. In some embodiments, spool 202 maybe configured to cause net 204 to wind about spool 202 in the absence ofany external force, either by a configuration of internal springs or anyother suitable means known in the art. Net 204 may be of appropriatesize to extend substantially the entire distance between the two hulls12 of catamaran 10.

Tension rod 206 may be a shaft of any suitable shape, such as acylinder, of any material capable of supporting the weights of net 204,rod 206, and fish 220 or whatever object is desired to be retrieved. Rodchannels 208 may be any channels adapted to receive the ends of tensionrod 206, such that tension rod 206 may be movably attached thereto, androd channels 208 may be positioned opposite from one another on eachhull 12 of catamaran 10 at or near the water line 15. As seen in FIGS.19-24, rod channels 208 may have one or more static positions forholding tension rod 206. In some embodiments, rod channels 208 may havethree positions for holding tension rod 206 in a static position: afirst, fully retracted position relatively near net spool 202, such thatnet 204 may be substantially spooled around net spool 202 as shown inFIG. 20; a second, fully deployed position in which tension rod 206 isseated at the lower end of leg 210 and held below the water line 15 anda substantial portion of net 204 may sink beneath the water line 15 asshown in FIG. 21; and a third, intermediate position in which tensionrod 206 is seated at the lower end of leg 212 and raised above the waterline 15, and a portion of net 204 may optionally be below the water line15 as shown in FIG. 22. As seen in FIG. 21, when tension rod 206 is inthe second, fully deployed position below the water line 15, asubstantial portion of net 204 may be deployed below the water line 15,and a fish 220 or other object may enter net 204 via a path or entry way222 that may be created above tension rod 206. A pole of appropriatelength, such as a boat hook, may be employed to move tension rod 206between the various static positions along rod channel 208. For example,after a fish 220 is positioned within net 204 as shown in FIG. 21, aboat hook may be used to move rod 206 to the position shown in FIG. 22,and then net spool 202 may be activated to re-wrap net 204 about spool202 and lift fish 220 out of the water, ultimately returning system 200to the fully retracted position shown in FIG. 20. System 200 thusgreatly facilitates hauling in fish or other objects.

As shown in FIGS. 26-35, another feature on catamaran 10 may be ananchoring and mooring system 300 for anchoring or mooring catamaran 10.Anchoring and mooring system 300 may include an anchor 302; an anchorchain 304 connected to anchor 302; a windlass 306 positioned amidshipson catamaran 10 and having anchor chain 304 connected thereto; and awindlass motor (not shown) connected to or contained within windlass306. The term “windlass” is used herein to refer to the windlass and itsmotor, whether integral or separate. Anchoring and mooring system 300may also include at least one substantially waterproof, lighted videocamera 310 mounted at or near an underside of catamaran 10; a chaincounter 312; a depth gauge 314; and a control module (not shown), whichmay each be connected to a microprocessor 348. Microprocessor 348 may beany suitable type of computer processor, which may be in communicationwith a suitable memory and may have any number and type of suitableinput and output devices.

As described above, a catamaran 10 is typically anchored off of bow 318of catamaran 10 because anchor chain 304 and windlass 306 are typicallyaccessible on the foredeck of catamaran 10. As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28,anchoring and mooring system 300 allows for anchoring or mooring towardeither bow 318 or stern 320 of catamaran 10 because anchor chain 304 andwindlass 306 are located generally amidships 322 on catamaran 10. Thisfeature allows attachment of a yoke 400 at either bow 318 or stern 320.In some embodiments, anchoring and mooring system 300 may include morethan one anchor 302, anchor chain 304, or windlass 306. In someembodiments, anchoring and mooring system 300 may include one windlasslocated between an amidships position 322 and bow 318 of catamaran 10,while a second windlass may be located between an amidships position 322and stern 320 of catamaran 10, thus also allowing anchoring or mooringtoward either or both of bow 318 and stern 320. Embodiments includingmore than one anchor 302, anchor chain 304, and/or windlass 306 may beused on large multi-hulled vessels, for example. Anchoring and mooringsystem 300 may be used on any type of water-borne vessel which mayinclude any number of hulls 12.

Anchor chain 304 may be removably connected to windlass 306, which maybe located generally amidships 322, as shown in FIGS. 27 and 28. Anchor302 may be any suitable type of anchor, including a sand anchor, reefpick, rock anchor, plow anchor, sea anchor or any other suitable anchorsufficient to secure catamaran 10 to a position on a harbor floor orother underwater surface. In anchoring and mooring system 300, anchor302 may be stored amidships 322 and thus may not obstruct bow 318 orstern 320 of catamaran 10 when in a stowed position. Anchor chain 304and anchor 302 may be stored in a compartment 334 between deck 378 andunderside 20, above deck 378, or below underside 20, when not in use. Insome embodiments, anchor 302 may be stored by suspending anchor 302below deck 378 by anchor chain 304 when not in use. As shown in FIGS. 27and 28, anchor 302 and anchor chain 304 may be stored at or near anamidships position on catamaran 10.

Anchor chain 304 may be made of any suitable material and may include aseries of connected links 326, as shown in FIG. 33. Anchor chain 304 maybe any suitable line for securing catamaran 10 to anchor 302 and mayinclude rope, cable, chain links, or other suitable material, or may bea combination of materials. For example, anchor chain 304 may be made ofhot-galvanized low carbon steel, stainless steel, vinyl coated stainlesssteel, nylon or other suitable material.

Windlass 306 may be configured to dispense and retract anchor chain 304and may be any suitable type of windlass, including a vertical andhorizontal windlass. Windlass 306 may be configured to deploy andretract any type of anchor chain 304. As shown in FIGS. 27, 28, 34 and35, windlass 306 may be a gypsy-type windlass 306 which includesindentations or protrusions 398 sized to match the chain size of acorresponding linked anchor chain 304. In the embodiment of FIG. 34,protrusions 398 may grasp chain links 326 to pull anchor chain 304 overwindlass 306. In some embodiments, indentations (not shown) on windlass306 may be sized to receive and grasp chain links 326 to pull anchorchain 304 over windlass 306. Thus, windlass 306 may deploy or retrieveanchor chain 304 without wrapping anchor chain 304 around windlass 306.Anchor chain 304 that has been retrieved may be stowed in a chain box346. In some embodiments, windlass 306 may include a wrapping head (notshown) for wrapping anchor chain 304 around the wrapping head ofwindlass 306. Windlass 306 may also include a mechanical brake, solenoidbrake, ratchet and pawl device, or other suitable braking mechanism toprevent unintentional release of anchor chain 304.

As shown in FIGS. 26-28 and 32-35, windlass 306 may be located betweendeck 378 and underside 20 of deck 378. Anchor chain 304 may pass throughhull doors 332, as shown in FIGS. 27, 28, 33 and 35, when anchor chain304 is in a deployed position. In some embodiments, windlass 306 may belocated above deck 378 such that anchor chain 304 passes through anaperture (not shown) in deck 378 and then through underside 20 of deck378. The aperture may include one or more fairleads or series offairleads to guide anchor chain 304 and reduce damage due to chaffingand/or vibration while anchor chain 304 is deployed and retracted. Insome embodiments, windlass 306 may be located below underside 20 of deck378. Similar to windlass 306, other elements of anchoring and mooringsystem 300, such as the windlass motor, chain counter 312, chain roller342, chain tension roller 344, and chain box 346, may be located abovedeck 378, between deck 378 and underside 20 of deck 378, or belowunderside 20 of deck 378.

Windlass 306 may include a windlass motor (not shown) to provide powerto windlass 306. The windlass motor may be an integral part of windlass306 or may be external to windlass 306. In some embodiments, thewindlass motor may be external to windlass 306 and may be located nearan amidships position on catamaran 10. In some embodiments, the windlassmotor may be, for example, a motor contained in a Pro-Series Windlass™available from Lewmar Inc. (Guilford, Conn.). The windlass motor may bewirelessly controlled by, for example, a microprocessor 348 and/orremote control 362 using wireless communication technology. Remote,wireless control of windlass 306 may be accomplished through the use ofa controller such as a 3-button Windlass Remote Kit™ available fromLewmar Inc. (Guilford, Conn.), which may form part of a wireless controlmodule (not shown). In some embodiments, the windlass motor may beelectronically controlled through a hardwired connection from amicroprocessor 348 and/or other control module. Windlass 306 may begas-powered, electric-powered, hydraulic-powered or may use any othersuitable type of power.

Windlass 306 may be located in compartment 334 over hull doors 332. Hulldoors 332 may open to allow passage of anchor 302 and anchor chain 304and may close to store anchor 302 and anchor chain 304. When hull doors332 are in a closed position, hull doors 332 may be substantially flushwith underside 20 of deck 378. A seal may be formed between hull doors332 and underside 20 of deck 378 when hull doors 332 are in a closedposition. Hull doors 332 may be made of the same material as underside20 of deck 378 or may be made of a different material than underside 20of deck 378. Hull doors 332 may be of any suitable size and shape and,in some embodiments, hull doors 332 may be sized to permit anchor 302 topass through hull doors 332. Hull doors 332 may open due to the pull ofgravity and close due to action of a mechanical linkage system, asdescribed further below in connection with FIGS. 32 and 33. In someembodiments, hull doors 332 may be biased in order to provide a closingforce to hull doors 332. In some embodiments, hull doors 332 may beopened and closed electronically and/or automatically (e.g. by asolenoid or other suitable actuator) either through hardwired orwireless communication from microprocessor 348 or other device. Hulldoors 332 may include two doors, as shown in FIGS. 27, 28, 32 and 33, asingle door, or more than two doors.

As shown in FIGS. 27, 28, 34, and 35, chain box 346 may be located nearwindlass 306 and may be configured to receive anchor chain 304 as anchorchain 304 is retrieved by windlass 306. In some embodiments, anchorchain 304 retrieved by windlass 306 may be automatically stored in chainbox 346 by falling into chain box 346 due to the force of gravity, asshown in FIG. 35. Chain box 346 may be any suitable size and shape. Aninterior access door 386, as shown in FIG. 35, may be located in deck378 above chain box 346. Interior access door 386 may allow access fromdeck 378 to chain box 346, windlass 306, chain tension roller 344, chainroller 342, and hull doors 332 for repairs or maintenance.

Chain tension roller 344 may be located between windlass 306 and chainroller 342 and may apply force to anchor chain 304 to keep sufficienttension in anchor chain 304 as anchor chain 304 is being deployed orretrieved. Chain tension roller 344 may be biased to provide such force,such as by one or more springs (not shown).

Chain roller 342 may be located adjacent chain tension roller 344 andmay be located above hull doors 332 and hull opening 334. When anchorchain 304 is deployed, anchor chain 304 may be pulled from chain box 346by windlass 306, pass from windlass 306 to chain tension roller 344, andthen pass from chain tension roller 344 to chain roller 342 and out hullopening 334. When anchor chain 304 is retrieved, it may be pulled bywindlass 306 over chain roller 342, under chain tension roller 344, andover windlass 306 to chain box 346. Of course, other suitableconfigurations of rollers or other guides may be used, depending on theparticular application.

Anchoring and mooring system 300 may also include a chain counter 312which may be configured to measure the length of anchor chain 304dispensed and retracted by windlass 306. Chain counter 312 may bepositioned at or near an amidships position on catamaran 10, as shown inFIGS. 26-28, and may form part of windlass 306 or may be separate fromwindlass 306. As described more fully below, chain counter 312 maycommunicate, either wirelessly or through hardwired connection, withwindlass 306 and/or microprocessor 348, and windlass 306 may be stoppedwhen a predetermined length of anchor chain 304 has been dispensed orrefracted. As described further below, chain counter 312 may comprisehardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware elementsand may communicate with and/or be executed by microprocessor 348. Chaincounter 312 may also communicate wirelessly with a remote control 362 orother suitable control module (not shown). Chain counter 312 may alsocommunicate through hardwired connection with a control module (notshown) located on catamaran 10, for example, in bridge 160. Chaincounter 312 may be, for example, an AAA150 Rode Counter™ available fromLewmar Inc. (Guilford, Conn.).

Video cameras 310 may be substantially waterproof and may be lightedsuch that a user may view anchor chain 304 and/or anchor 302 while theyare being deployed and retrieved by viewing video images produced byvideo cameras 310 on video monitor 376. Anchoring and mooring system 300may include one video camera 310 or may include two or more videocameras 310 that provide various views of anchor 302 and/or anchor chain304 in relation to one or more hulls 12. As shown in FIGS. 26-28,cameras 310 may be located in hulls 12 and may be positioned below waterline 15. Cameras 310 may be located on a bottom portion 328 of hulls 12,as shown in FIG. 26, or may be positioned on a lateral surface of hulls(not shown). In other embodiments, cameras 310 may be positioned at orabove water line 15. In other embodiments, cameras 310 may be positionedon or in underside 20 of deck 378. Cameras 310 may be angled towardanchor chain 304 and may include a wide angle lens. Cameras 310 may beflush mounted in hulls 12 or underside 20 of deck 378 to form anaerodynamic and hydrodynamic shape with minimized drag. Cameras 310 mayproduce high resolution, black-and-white or color video images and maybe, for example, a SplashCam Dropshot 20/20™ camera available from OceanSystems, Inc. (Everett, Wash.).

Cameras 310 may send video signals to monitor 376 and/or microprocessor348. Video images produced by cameras 310 may be viewable on monitor 376which may be part of a remote control 362 or other control module. Whileanchor chain 304 and anchor 302 are deployed and retrieved, a user mayview video images of anchor chain 304 and anchor 302 displayed onmonitor 376. Using such video images, a user may operate the propulsionand directional control systems of catamaran 10 to control thepositioning of catamaran 10 with respect to anchor chain 304 and anchor302 such that anchor chain 304 and anchor 302 do not contact hulls 12while anchor chain 304 and anchor 302 are deployed or retracted. Forexample, a user may use a control module to center catamaran 10 overanchor chain 304 so that anchor chain 304 is retracted or deployed asafe distance from hulls 12. Cameras 310 may be configured to provideimages to microprocessor 348 and/or monitor 376 only when anchor chain304 is being retracted and deployed.

Depth gauge 314 may be located in hull 12, as shown in FIGS. 27 and 28,or may be located in any other suitable location, such as underside 20of deck 378. Depth gauge 314 may be configured to measure the depth ofwater under catamaran 10 and may provide depth data to microprocessor348 and/or a control module. Depth data produced by depth gauge 314 maybe used by microprocessor 348 to calculate an appropriate amount ofanchor chain 304 to be deployed by windlass 306. In some embodiments,depth gauge 314 may continuously or periodically measure water depth andprovide water depth information to microprocessor 348 or other controlmodule.

A control module may be located on catamaran 10, for example, in bridge160, or may be portable and may wirelessly communicate with and controlcomponents of anchoring and mooring system 300 and other components ofcatamaran 10. The control module may include a joystick 366 configuredto remotely control the propulsion mean(s) and/or steering of catamaran10. The control module may also remotely control windlass 306 and mayinclude a deploy anchor button 368, a deploy yoke button 370, a retrieveyoke button 374, and retrieve anchor button 372. Although elements 368,370, 372, and 374 are referred to as “buttons,” they may be any suitablesignal control devices, such as push-button switches, toggle switches,or the like. The control module may be comprised of one unitarycomponent or may include several separate components. For example, thecontrol module may include components which are located on catamaran 10in bridge 160 and may also include elements which are portable andwirelessly communicate with and control components of anchoring andmooring system 300 and catamaran 10. Additionally, the control modulemay include two separate modules where one module is portable and theother module is secured to catamaran 10.

As shown in FIG. 29, each of depth gauge 314 and chain counter 312 maycommunicate wirelessly or through hardwired connection withmicroprocessor 348. In some embodiments, the control module, windlass306, and cameras 310 may also communicate with microprocessor 348. Insome embodiments, components of anchoring and mooring system 300 mayinclude software which is configured to be performed by microprocessor348. Microprocessor 348 may include memory configured to record datareceived from components of anchoring and mooring system 300 and fromother parts of catamaran 10. Microprocessor 348 may receive variousinput signals, compute necessary control information based on the inputsignals, record data, and send desired control signals to variouscomponents of anchoring and mooring system 300 to control, for example,the raising and lowering of anchor chain 304. For example, in someembodiments, depth measurements from depth gauge 314 may be provided tomicroprocessor 348. Microprocessor 348 may calculate the necessarylength of anchor chain 304 which is to be deployed in order to anchorcatamaran 10 (for example, seven times the measured depth, or othersuitable calculation). When a user depresses the deploy anchor button368, microprocessor 348 may send a deploy signal to the windlass motor,such that windlass 306 may begin to deploy anchor chain 304. Chaincounter 312 may measure the length of anchor chain 304 that has beendeployed from windlass 306 and may send a signal to microprocessor 348when the desired length of chain 304 has been deployed, andmicroprocessor 348 may send a stop signal to the windlass motor to stopwindlass 306. Microprocessor 348 may store data in memory concerning theamount of anchor chain 304 that was deployed.

User inputs, such as deploy anchor button 368, deploy yoke button 370,manual deploy button 388, retrieve yoke button 374, retrieve anchorbutton 372 and manual retrieve button 390, may communicate withmicroprocessor 348 and may cause microprocessor 348 to send controlsignals to remote control 362, which may then control other components,such as windlass 306. In other embodiments, the above-mentioned buttons368, 370, 388, 374, 372, 390 may communicate directly with remotecontrol 362. Remote control 362 and microprocessor 348 may communicatedirectly with other components of anchoring and mooring system 300, suchas windlass 306.

While anchor chain 304 is being deployed or retrieved, the captain maycontrol the position and orientation of catamaran 10 with respect toanchor chain 304 and anchor 302 either manually or automatically. Thecaptain may manually control the position and orientation of catamaran10 while viewing video images produced by video cameras 310 shown onmonitor 376. The captain may control the position and orientation ofcatamaran 10 using manual controls and may view monitor 376 to ensurethat the anchor chain 304 and anchor 302 do not contact hulls 12.

As shown in FIG. 29, catamaran 10 may also be automatically controlledwhile anchor 302 is deployed or retrieved. “Deploy” or “Retrieve” inputmay be received from the captain by microprocessor 348, which mayautomatically control deploying or retrieving anchor 302 from that pointforward. Microprocessor 348 may process input data and send controlsignals to remote control 362. Remote control 362 may send start andstop signals to windlass 306. One or more chain position sensors 316,such as, for example, an acoustic or optic sensor, may send positionsignals to microprocessor 348 indicative of the position of anchor chain304 relative to one or more hulls 12. Microprocessor 348 may control joystick 366 or other suitable control module to control the propulsionsystem and steering system of catamaran 10 to insure a safe distancebetween anchor chain 304 and hulls 12 of catamaran 10 as anchor 302 isretrieved or deployed. In some embodiments, the captain may view theposition of anchor chain 304 on monitor 376 as anchor chain 304 isautomatically retrieved or deployed and catamaran 10 is automaticallysteered and powered and may manually override the control of catamaran10 by moving the joy stick control 366 or other controls, if necessary.

In a method for deploying anchor 302, depth gauge 314 may continuouslyor periodically provide a depth-under-hull signal to microprocessor 348.Microprocessor 348 may use depth information from depth gauge 314 tocalculate the proper anchor chain length to be deployed. Calculatedchain length data may be delivered to chain counter 312. When thecaptain positions catamaran 10 over the site to drop anchor 302, thecaptain may press deploy anchor button 368, and remote control 362 maytell windlass 306 to deploy anchor chain 304 until chain counter 312detects the proper length of anchor chain 304 has been deployed. Chaincounter 312 or microprocessor 348 may then send a “stop” signal towindlass 306. Yoke 400 may be manually installed on anchor chain 304.The captain may press deploy yoke button 370 and microprocessor 348 maycalculate and tell chain counter 312 the additional length of anchorchain 304 to be deployed to apply desired tension to yoke 400.Microprocessor 348 may also tell remote control 362 to tell windlass 306to deploy additional anchor chain 304. When the proper amount of anchorchain 304 is deployed to apply sufficient tension to yoke 400, chaincounter 312 or microprocessor 348 may tell windlass 306 to stopdeploying anchor chain 304 and the anchoring method ends. In someembodiments, some or all of the “start” and “stop” control signals maybe sent directly from microprocessor 348 to windlass 306. As usedherein, “tell” means to send a communication signal. Signalcommunication among the various components described herein may be anysuitable type of signal communication, such as electrical, optical,acoustic, or the like.

A method to retrieve anchor 302 may begin by the captain pressingretrieve yoke button 374, and microprocessor 348 may tell chain counter312 how much anchor chain 304 needs to be retrieved to remove desiredtension from yoke 400. Microprocessor 348 may also tell remote control362 to tell windlass 306 to retrieve anchor chain 304. Yoke 400 may bemanually removed from anchor chain 304. The captain may press theretrieve anchor button 372. Remote control 362 may tell windlass 306 toretrieve anchor chain 304 until a limit switch stops windlass 306 andthe anchor retrieval method is complete.

In some embodiments, a method for deploying an anchor may start by depthgauge 314 sending a depth signal to microprocessor 348. Video camera 310may send a video signal to microprocessor 348 and/or monitor 376. Videosignals received by microprocessor 348 may be processed and sent tomonitor 376. Microprocessor 348 may calculate the length of anchor chain304 to be deployed using the depth signal received from depth gauge 314.Microprocessor 348 may receive a deploy anchor signal. Microprocessor348 may send a deploy anchor signal to the windlass motor. The windlassmotor may turn windlass 306 and windlass 306 may deploy anchor chain304. Microprocessor 348 may send chain length data to chain counter 312,and chain counter 312 may measure the length of anchor chain 304deployed by windlass 306. While anchor chain 304 is being deployed, thecaptain may observe anchor chain 304 by viewing the video images ofanchor chain 304 on monitor 376. In some embodiments, acoustic or opticsensors 316 may send proximity data to microprocessor 348 indicative ofhow close anchor chain 304 is to hulls 12 of catamaran 10.Microprocessor 348 may automatically control the propulsion system andthe steering system of catamaran 10 to center anchor chain 304 betweenhulls 12. Chain counter 312 may send a stop signal to microprocessor 348when the calculated length of anchor chain 304 has been deployed.Microprocessor 348 may send a stop signal to the windlass motor. Thewindlass motor may receive the stop signal and may stop windlass 306.Yoke 400 may be manually connected to anchor chain 304 by connectinganchor chain carabiner 404 between links 326 of anchor chain 304.Proximal ends 436 of yoke rope 416 may be installed on correspondingport and starboard cleats 340.

Microprocessor 348 may receive a deploy yoke signal. Microprocessor 348may calculate the length of anchor chain 304 needed to transfer at leastsome tension from anchor chain 304 to yoke 400 and may send thecalculated length data to chain counter 312. Microprocessor 348 may senda deploy yoke signal to the windlass motor. The windlass motor may turnwindlass 306 and windlass 306 may deploy anchor chain 304. Chain counter312 may measure the length of anchor chain 304 deployed by windlass 306.Chain counter 312 may send a stop signal to microprocessor 348 when thecalculated length of anchor chain 304 has been deployed. Microprocessor348 may send a stop signal to the windlass motor and the method may end.

In some embodiments, a method to retrieve anchor 302 may start withvideo cameras 310 sending a video signal to microprocessor 348 and/ormonitor 376. Microprocessor 348 may process the video signal and sendthe processed video signal to monitor 376. Microprocessor 348 mayreceive a retrieve yoke signal. Microprocessor 348 may calculate thelength of anchor chain 304 that should be retrieved to relieve desiredtension in yoke 400. In some embodiments, microprocessor 348 mayaccesses memory to determine an amount of anchor chain 304 to beretrieved to relieve desired tension in yoke 400. Microprocessor 348 maysend the calculated length data to chain counter 312. In someembodiments, yoke 400 may include a tension sensor (not shown), such asa strain gauge or load cell, which may send a tension signal tomicroprocessor 348, which may send “stop” and “start” signals towindlass 306 based on the tension data. Microprocessor 348 may send aretrieve yoke signal to the windlass motor. The windlass motor may turnwindlass 306 to retrieve anchor chain 304. Chain counter 312 may measurethe length of anchor chain 304 retrieved and may send a stop signal tomicroprocessor 348 when the predetermined amount has been retrieved. Inother embodiments, microprocessor 348 may send a retrieve yoke signal tothe windlass motor, and the windlass motor may employ a strain gauge orother tension measuring device to determine when the necessary tensionhas been transferred from yoke 400 to anchor chain 304. The strain gaugeor other strain sensor may send strain measurements to microprocessor348. When microprocessor 348 determines that predetermined strain hasbeen reached, microprocessor 348 may send a stop signal to the windlassmotor.

During the anchor retrieval process, monitor 376 may display live videoimages of the anchor chain 304 and anchor 302 produced by video cameras310. The captain may control catamaran 10 from a control module to keepcatamaran 10 centered over anchor chain 304 as it is retrieved. In otherembodiments, microprocessor 348 may receive proximity data from one ormore of acoustic and/or optical sensors 316 indicative of the proximityof the anchor chain 304 to the hulls 12. Microprocessor 348 mayautomatically control the propulsion system and steering system ofcatamaran 10 to center catamaran 10 over the anchor chain 304 as it isretrieved.

Yoke 400 may be manually removed from anchor chain 304 by removinganchor chain carabiner 404 from anchor chain 304. Microprocessor 348 mayreceive a retrieve anchor signal. Microprocessor 348 may send a startsignal to the windlass motor and the windlass motor may turn windlass306 to retrieve anchor chain 304. Chain counter 312 may measure thelength of anchor chain 304 retrieved. Chain counter 312 may send a stopsignal when the previously deployed length of anchor chain 304 has beenretrieved. In some embodiments, the windlass motor may stopautomatically when tension in anchor chain 304 indicates that anchor 302has been fully retrieved. The method may then end.

As shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, yoke 400 may include a rigid pipe 402, ananchor chain carabiner 404 attached to rigid pipe 402, a mooring loopcarabiner 406 attached to rigid pipe 402 adjacent anchor chain carabiner404, and a boat hook 408 attached to rigid pipe 402 perpendicular toboth anchor chain carabiner 404 and mooring loop carabiner 406. Mooringloop carabiner 406, anchor chain carabiner 404 and boat hook 408 may beconfigured in any suitable manner with respect to rigid pipe 402. Yoke400 may be configured to connect anchor chain 304 to cleats 340 on bow318 or stern 320 of catamaran 10, as shown in FIGS. 27 and 28,respectively. Once yoke 400 is installed, adequate anchor chain 304 isdeployed to transfer at least some tension from anchor chain 304 to yoke400.

Rigid pipe 402 may include an extended portion 410, which may be anydesired length, such as about between seven (7) and eight (8) feet inlength, for example. Extended portion 410 may include a handle (notshown) or a suitable surface finish at the proximal end to allowgrasping by a user. Rigid pipe 402 may also include a union portion 412and a distal end 414. Union portion 412 may connect extended portion 410to distal end 414 and may be angular, as shown in FIG. 31, or may becurved. As shown in the front view of FIG. 31, rigid pipe 402 may beflat when viewed in a front view. In some embodiments, rigid pipe 402may be curved or angled when viewed in a front view. Rope 416 may bedisposed within rigid pipe 402 and may exit rigid pipe 402 at distal end438 and proximal end 428. Proximal ends 436 of rope 416 may secure tocleats 340 on port and starboard sides of catamaran 10.

Anchor chain carabiner 404 may be configured to removably secure toanchor chain 304. While standing or sitting on deck 378, a user maygrasp the proximal end 428 of rigid pipe 402 and extend rigid pipe 402toward anchor chain 304 such that anchor chain carabiner 404 contactsanchor chain 304. Anchor chain carabiner latch 430 may be spring loadedand may retract when pressed against anchor chain 304. In someembodiments, anchor chain carabiner latch 430 may be manually retractedby pulling pull ring 422. Pull ring 422 may be connected with line 424,which may be connected with anchor chain carabiner latch 430, as shownin FIG. 30. Line 424 may pass through pulley 422 or may apply force toanchor chain carabiner latch 430 in any other suitable manner. Anchorchain carabiner 404 may secure to anchor chain 304 by threading hook 434through an anchor chain link 326 or by placing hook 434 around an anchorchain link 326, such as, for example, central anchor chain link 392, andbetween two other anchor chain links 326 adjacent the anchor chain link326 around which anchor chain carabiner 404 is placed, such as, forexample, first anchor chain link 394 and second anchor chain link 396,as shown in FIG. 36. Anchor chain carabiner 404 may be sized to fitsnugly between first anchor chain link 394 and second anchor chain link396 such that anchor chain 304 is substantially fixed with respect toyoke 400, and carabiner 404 may have a width 440 sized to snugly fitaround the captured, central anchor chain link 392. As shown in FIG. 31,anchor chain carabiner 404 may be shorter and thinner than mooring loopcarabiner 406. Anchor chain carabiner 404 may be of such a thicknessthat when anchor chain carabiner 404 is attached around central anchorchain link 392, anchor chain carabiner 404 covers most of the distancebetween an outer, near end of first anchor chain link 394 and an outer,near end of second anchor chain link 396. Thus, anchor chain carabiner404 may be held between the outer, near end of first anchor chain link394 and the outer, near end of second anchor chain link 396 and may besubstantially restricted from longitudinal displacement with respect toanchor chain 304. Anchor chain carabiner 404 may be removed from anchorchain 304 by pulling ring 422 which is connected with anchor chaincarabiner latch 430 by line 424.

Mooring loop carabiner 406 may secure to a mooring loop (not shown) byplacing hook 434 within the mooring loop. A user may use rigid pipe 402to reach for the mooring loop by grasping proximal end 428 and extendingboat hook 408 toward the mooring loop, hooking the mooring loop withhook 408, and bringing the mooring loop to the user. The user may placethe mooring loop within mooring loop carabiner 406 such that mooringloop carabiner latch 432 locks the mooring loop within mooring loopcarabiner 406. Proximal ends 436 of rope 416 may then be secured tocleats 340 on port and starboard sides of catamaran 10.

As shown in FIG. 26, proximal ends 436 of rope 416 may be secured tocleats 340 on catamaran 10 after one of anchor chain carabiner 404 andmooring loop carabiner 406 is secured to anchor chain 304 or a mooringloop, respectively. In some embodiments, rope 416 may be fixedlyattached to pipe 402. In other embodiments, rope 416 may be movablewithin rigid pipe 402 such that yoke 400 may move in directions 336, 338and may adjust position with respect to rope 416 depending on conditionssuch as water current or wind direction. In some embodiments, relativemovement of pipe 402 with respect to rope 416 may be limited such thatanchor chain 304 cannot contact hulls 12.

FIGS. 32 and 34 show anchor 302 in a stored position, and FIG. 33 showsanchor 302 in a deployed position. In a deployed position, as shown inFIG. 33, hull doors 332 are in an open position and anchor chain 304hangs through hull opening 324. Anchor chain 304 may hang from chainroller 342 and may be held in place due to a braking mechanism includedin windlass 306 or another suitable braking mechanism. Hull doors 332may open due to the weight of hull doors 332 and may remain open whileanchor 302 is in a deployed position. In some embodiments, hull doors332 may completely or partially close when anchor 302 is in a deployedposition.

As shown in FIGS. 32 and 33, a door closure device may attach to hulldoors 332. The door closure device may include rigid links 350, 352,354, 356, 358, 360 connected by pivot points 380. Pivot points 380 maybe pin joints, ball joints, or any other suitable joint, and may allowrigid links 350, 352, 354, 356, 358, 360 to pivot with respect to eachother. Rigid links 350, 356 may be rigidly secured to door latch 384,and rigid links 354, 360 may be rigidly secured to hull doors 332. Rigidlinks 352, 358 may be pivotally linked to rigid links 350, 354 and rigidlinks 356, 360, respectively. When anchor 302 is retrieved, anchor chain304 may be pulled over chain roller 342 until a portion of anchor 302contacts chain roller 342. Anchor 302 may then be progressively forcedinto a substantially parallel position with respect to deck 378 as shownin FIGS. 32 and 34. While being forced into a substantially parallelposition, a portion of anchor 302 may contact door latch 384 and pushdoor latch 384 along track 382 from an open position, as shown in FIG.33, to a closed position, as shown in FIG. 32. As door latch 384 movesfrom the open position of FIG. 33 to the closed position of FIG. 32,door latch 384 pulls on rigid links 350, 356, which pull on rigid links352, 358, which pull on rigid links 354, 360 to automatically close hulldoors 332. When anchor 302 is deployed, hull doors 332 automaticallyfall open as anchor 302 moves towards hulls doors 332 and as door latch384 moves with anchor 302 from the closed position towards the openposition. As shown in FIGS. 32 and 34, anchor 302 may be stored betweendeck 378 and underside 20 of deck 378 in a substantially parallelposition with respect to deck 378. As shown in FIG. 34, when anchor 302is stored, a portion of anchor 302 may be held on chain roller 342, anddoor latch 384 may rest on anchor 302.

Systems and methods described herein may greatly improve the anchoringor mooring of a catamaran. With the windlass located generallyamidships, such systems and methods may allow anchoring or mooringtoward either the bow or the stern of the catamaran, which significantlyimproves the captain's options of orienting the catamaran with respectto prevailing winds for sufficient ventilation of the cabin and withregard to the available views from either the bow or stern. Such systemsand methods may also greatly simplify and increase the safety andprecision with which a captain may deploy and retrieve an anchor in amanner that avoids chaffing of the anchor chain against the hulls of thecatamaran.

The embodiments described above are some examples of the currentinvention. Various modifications and changes of the current inventionwill be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art. Among otherthings, any feature described for one embodiment may be used in anyother embodiment. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims,considering the doctrine of equivalents, and is not limited to thespecific examples described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A water-borne vessel comprising: a catamaranhaving first and second hulls spaced apart from each other and a bowdeck between said hulls; and a dinghy disposed between said hulls andbelow said bow deck; said dinghy being movable between a stowed positionin which said dinghy is proximate an underside of said bow deck and adeployed position at or near a water line beneath said bow deck.
 2. Thevessel of claim 1 further comprising a cradle adapted for receiving andreleasing said dinghy.
 3. The vessel of claim 2 wherein said cradlecomprises a substantially stiff bow portion that extends forward of aleading edge of said bow deck when said dinghy is in said stowedposition, said bow portion being suitable to support the weight of aperson.
 4. The vessel of claim 3 wherein said bow portion comprises ashape complementary to a shape of said leading edge of said bow deck. 5.The vessel of claim 2 further comprising a water-tight seal between saidcradle and said catamaran when said dinghy is in said stowed position,and wherein said cradle and said underside of said bow deck form aV-shaped nacelle.
 6. The vessel of claim 1 wherein said dinghy is heldsnugly against said underside in said stowed position.
 7. The vessel ofclaim 6 further comprising a water-tight seal between said dinghy andsaid catamaran, and wherein said dinghy and said underside of said bowdeck form a V-shaped nacelle.
 8. The vessel of claim 7 furthercomprising a cradle in which said dinghy is disposed, and wherein saidcradle forms a portion of said V-shaped nacelle.
 9. The vessel of claim1 wherein a bow portion of said dinghy extends forward of a leading edgeof said bow deck in said stowed position.
 10. The vessel of claim 9wherein said bow portion of said dinghy comprises a shape complementaryto a shape of said leading edge of said bow deck.
 11. The vessel ofclaim 9 wherein said bow portion comprises a substantially stiff dinghybow deck suitable to support the weight of a person.
 12. The vessel ofclaim 11 further comprising one or more switches mounted to saidcatamaran proximate said leading edge, said one or more switches beingadapted for actuating a lift system for raising and lowering said dinghybetween said stowed position and said deployed position.
 13. The vesselof claim 1 wherein said dinghy comprises a motor pivotally mounted to atransom.
 14. The vessel of claim 13 wherein said motor comprises anengine and a propeller, and wherein said underside of said bow deckcomprises a cavity adapted for receiving said engine and said propellerin said stowed position.
 15. The vessel of claim 14 further comprising ahatch attached to a pivot body of said transom wherein said hatchsealingly covers said cavity in said stowed position.
 16. The vessel ofclaim 1 wherein said dinghy comprises a control console detachablymounted to a docking station on said dinghy.
 17. The vessel of claim 16wherein said control console is accessible from said catamaran throughan opening in said bow deck.
 18. The vessel of claim 17 wherein saidopening is sized and configured to permit a user to board and disembarkfrom said dinghy through said opening.
 19. The vessel of claim 18further comprising one or more switches mounted to said catamaranproximate said opening, said one or more switches being adapted foractuating a lift system for raising and lowering said dinghy betweensaid stowed position and said deployed position.
 20. The vessel of claim16 wherein said control console is mountable to said catamaran.
 21. Thevessel of claim 1 further comprising a retractable diving boardinstalled in a cavity in a stern portion of said catamaran.
 22. Thevessel of claim 1 further comprising a retrieval system mounted to astern portion of said catamaran, said retrieval system comprising aspool-mounted net extendable from a retracted position to a deployedposition.
 23. The vessel of claim 1 further comprising: a windlasslocated generally amidships on said catamaran; an anchor chainoperatively engaged with said windlass; an anchor attached to saidanchor chain; at least one video camera mounted to said catamaran andoriented to provide video images of said anchor chain in relation to atleast one of said hulls as said anchor chain is deployed from andretracted by said windlass; and a monitor in communication with said atleast one video camera, said monitor configured for displaying saidvideo images of said anchor chain.
 24. The vessel of claim 23 furthercomprising: a depth sensor mounted to said catamaran and oriented tomeasure a depth of water under said catamaran; a computer processorconfigured to receive a signal representative of said depth from saiddepth sensor and calculate a desired length of said anchor chain to bedeployed based on said depth; and a chain counter in communication withsaid windlass and configured to measure a length of anchor chaindeployed from or retracted by said windlass.
 25. The vessel of claim 1further comprising: a windlass located generally amidships on saidcatamaran; an anchor chain operatively engaged with said windlass; ananchor attached to said anchor chain; and at least one proximity sensormounted to said catamaran and oriented to provide an indication of theposition of said anchor chain relative to said hulls as said anchorchain is deployed from and retracted by said windlass.
 26. The vessel ofclaim 1 further comprising: a hollow, rigid pipe comprising a proximalend configured to be grasped by a user and a distal end opposite saidproximal end; a rope entering said hollow, rigid pipe at said proximalend, extending through said hollow, rigid pipe, and exiting said hollow,rigid pipe at said distal end, said rope configured to removably securesaid hollow, rigid pipe to a cleat on said catamaran; an anchor chaincarabiner connected to said hollow, rigid pipe and configured toremovably secure said hollow, rigid pipe to an anchor chain mounted tosaid catamaran; a mooring loop carabiner connected to said hollow, rigidpipe and configured to removably secure said hollow, rigid pipe to amooring loop; and a boat hook connected to said hollow, rigid pipe nearsaid distal end of said hollow, rigid pipe.